Iwona Sobotka’s critically acclaimed performance in Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra alongside Maestro Riccardo Muti and the Tokyo Spring Festival Orchestra has been named the #1 concert of the season by Japan’s prestigious Ongaku no Tomo magazine in their February 2026 Concert Ranking.
The concert performance, which took place in September 2025 at Tokyo Bunka Kaikan as part of the renowned Tokyo Spring Festival, brought together world-class artistry in one of Verdi’s most demanding and profound operas. Under the baton of the legendary 83-year-old Maestro Muti, the performance was hailed as an unforgettable musical experience that demonstrated the highest level of operatic art.
In their review, Ongaku no Tomo specifically praised Sobotka’s contribution to the evening’s success:
“Among the soloists, special mention must be made of the soprano, dressed in a striking red gown, who brought both vocal beauty and dramatic conviction to her role. Her voice soared over the orchestra in the more lyrical passages while maintaining the necessary dramatic weight for the opera’s intense confrontational scenes.”
The recognition is particularly significant as Ongaku no Tomo is Japan’s leading classical music publication, and their Concert Ranking represents the pinnacle of critical acclaim in one of the world’s most discerning classical music markets and reflects not only technical excellence but the profound emotional impact the performance had on both critics and audiences.
The magazine emphasized how Maestro Muti’s interpretation revealed the philosophical depth and humanistic themes of Simon Boccanegra, and Sobotka’s performance was integral to realizing this artistic vision. Her ability to combine vocal beauty with dramatic intensity exemplifies the complete artistry required for Verdi’s complex score.
This distinction adds to Sobotka’s growing recognition in the international opera world and confirms her status as one of today’s leading Verdi interpreters. The Tokyo Spring Festival, known for presenting only the world’s finest artists, provided the perfect platform for this extraordinary collaboration between Muti and his carefully selected cast of international soloists.
